Slow Progress, Sol Searching, And Young Catalan Is Off
May 26th, 2010 by 'holic
So, here we are, courtesy of the mobile broadband dongle. Not the fastest bit of kit on the planet, but at least I should be able to complete this piece, unlike my last attempt. Apologies to anybody who, like Yuri who commented first, was singularly unimpressed. I probably would have been too, but I did want you to know why I wasn’t publishing.
Actually, following the drinks on that post has been an absolute pleasure, thank you ‘holics. No prizes for guessing the main topic of conversation. I don’t actually want to add a great deal to the furore surrounding a deal that now cannot happen quickly, if at all.
Let’s not kid ourselves, the blogs and newspapers alike are loving the opportunity to claim more knowledge than they actually have, and to challenge each other to see who can over-react the most. That’s what gets you readers I guess, and if you rely on advertising, and sales, then you have to dramatise more than the next fella.
I’ll summarise my understanding, based on a little bit of fact, and a fair degree of interpreting the various stories out there in some degree of context. Firstly, I don’t think it is in doubt that Cesc has asked Arsenal if they can explore the possibility of him joining Barcelona.
Secondly, he has five years remaining on his contract, is 22 years of age, a current international, and captain of his club, which means Arsenal are entitled to a shedload of cash for him IF they agree to negotiate.
Barcelona show absolutely no sign of meeting what is likely to be the asking price, and seem to be relying on a tactic of co-ordinated unsettling of the player in an attempt to persuade Arsenal to sell him below his market value.
In all, from a feeling that the deal was hanging in the balance, a fifty-fifty shot last week, I am now inclined to sixty-forty in favour of Cesc remaining at the Grove next season. To those who say we will have a de-motivated individual on our hands I say I think you seriously misjudge the character of the player.
“Wenger said to leave it in his hands and he will deal with whatever happens in the future. It is now all about Arsenal.”
Clearly Fabregas understands the commitment he has made to Arsenal, and the difficulty involved in making such a deal happen without damaging consequences for his current club. Only a huge amount of money will solve that issue.
It’s really quite simple at the end of the day. Do Arsenal have a figure at which they will sell? Probably. Is that a price that Barcelona are prepared to pay? Well from their initial stance one would have to be sceptical, but they know the source of their future funding is about to dry up. They may just go the extra mile to secure the services of one of the world’s great young midfielders on a long-term deal, while they can, and that may explain why Cesc wants to leave a little earlier than we had all hoped, and indeed expected.
Sol The Celt?
I booked my tickets for the Sunday of the Emirates Cup last night. This morning therefore I was amused to discover I can reasonably expect to see Sol Campbell in the final match, but on which side?
Sol himself, speaking on ATvO just before the season’s end said he would like to carry on playing, and on the face of it you would imagine if he were to evaluate the number of appearances he is likely to make for Celtic that would give them the edge over an extension to his Arsenal career.
His words yesterday sent out a slightly different message.
“Neil (Lennon) clearly understands what’s needed at Celtic and I appreciate his interest. But we’ve still got to properly negotiate and the figures might not stack up.”
Ah, so money does have a big part to play then! Now I would love to see Sol stay. I don’t doubt he will have offers from other Premiership clubs as well as Celtic, but in all honesty I don’t think they will be the bigger payers. Given the sums we lavish on some of our younger and less consistent players, I hope we don’t lose Sol for the sort of peanuts that would cause one of his old team-mates to swerve off the road.
I have a feeling his experience and determination, so ably demonstrated while all around him lost their heads in the final month of the season, will be a valuable asset for just one more year. Please?
Young Spaniard Opts To Go Home
In all the kerfuffle surrounding the skipper you would be forgiven for missing the departure of Fran Merida. Only this product of Catalonia didn’t have much in the way of Barca DNA, but an urge to test himself in the colours of Athletico Madrid.
I really don’t have much to say about his going. He is twenty, and just six appearances for the Gunners tells a tale of his much slower progress than his exceptional countryman. That’s not to say that he didn’t show a great deal of promise in his three years in North London.
It is always sad to see a good young player not quite make it, and I hope he will develop more fully back in more familiar surroundings, He was with a club where only the very best will make that final step-up. Sorry Fran, and good luck to you in Madrid.
94 Responses to “Slow Progress, Sol Searching, And Young Catalan Is Off”
Great piece, Holic.
Believe it or not, I’m quite satisfied with Cesc’s statements today, he didn’t say anything we didn’t know already, but he didn’t lash out on Arsenal like he was requested to by the Catalan filth.
RVP scored twice and getting into world class shape once again, that just shows how much potential we have in this current squad, we just need that weak link fixed which is obviously the keeper and a proper partner for Vermaelen.
Nice one Holic. Please stay Fab!
Once again Fabregas showed what a class act he is. A true gentleman and Barca don’t really deserve a player with such fine manners.
sorry to see fran go. wish him luck though, and as arseblog said, can’t really blame him. a brandy will hit the spot barman.
‘Holic
I kinda think now he might stay. If he does, it’s because AW has promised the right reinforcements. If Cesc’s still in red and white come the new season, it could get very interesting.
Thank you for your good sense this season. Let’s hope we can read your thoughts on the Young Catalan along side RVP, Song, Eboue, Arshavin et al against next season.
I think and hope you’re right ‘holic. I’m sad to see Fran return also he could have a big future. Pint of guinness for starters please.
[…] Goonerholic has made a brilliant point that I was struggling to put into words earlier, Barcelona know that […]
Evening, all.
Cesc’s words were some of the most sensible things I’ve heard on this mess. Kudos to him.
Anything with gin in it, please. Cheers.
`Holic, glad to see you’re inching towards optimism 😉 What a difference a day make. Now think what’ll happen every time Cesc scores, misses, plays, is subbed etc. during the WC. A month-long worth of pendulum swings, yay!
As is stands now Sol is likely 5th-choice CD behind Vermy, Gallas, Djourou and the unknown but world-class defender we think Arsene is after. He still has what it takes against lower teams but not against CL-quality opponents (in the CL or the EPL) and he’s got probably only one year left at this level. His career has been relaunched at Arsenal so he gets this one last opportunity at Celtic. I really can’t blame him for seizing it and if that’s the final step I am really happy Sol was given the opportunity to leave us on a high note this time around. That’s the least an Incincible deserves.
It’d be a terrible shame to see Sol move on again after showing all that he still has to offer the club in terms of ability, experience and (uncommon amongst some of our strollers) sheer effort. While Arsenal swooned away the last few weeks of the season, one could always count on Sol Campbell busting his gut for us every step of the way. I do hope we can hang on to him, for at least one more season, but if he does leave for the hoops, this last few months will have been a much more fitting exit from him than the end to his first stint with the Arsenal. Well done Sol, and we hope you’ll stay.
I don’t think anybody has ever accused me of inching away from it, Matt 😉
Don’t get me wrong, Cesc does want to go, but we no longer have any need to roll over and let them have their way for less than he is worth.
I think the negotiations will be extremely difficult because we have had the better of previous dealings with them, getting inflated fees for Overmars, Henry and Hleb, and relieving them of the worry of signing Cesc and Merida when they turned 18 😉
Barca will want to be seen to ‘win’ this one, but I’m sure our new set-up will ensure we play hardball on the fee. They know the backlash they will get from the supporters if Cesc goes for anything less than silly money.
Here’s a question for ‘holics then. What would be acceptable silly money? I’m deadly serious when I say £65 million. Yes pounds, not Euros, and the bulk of it up front, amigos.
Evening all.
First of all young Fran. Not surprised he has gone. She showed glimpses of what might have been but never really made it. If you look at what we have in midfield then you have to say that only an even longer injury list gets him games. Can’t blame him for going and good luck to him.
Sol. I agree totally about keeping him. He was a real tower of strength towards the end of the season and I feel many could learn from him. I would love to see him stay. That said Celtic must be very attractive to him. The games are going to be a lot easier than he will get here. He will have fewer games and a 50/50 chance of silverware. Plus a 2 year deal .I can see why he might take that option. However, losing Sol and Gallas would mean some more delving into the markets.
Now for Cesc. I seem to be a bit out on a limb here compared to the popular views. I personally think that he has behaved shockingly. I am really not impressed one bit with the way things have evolved. Again I agree with you holic that we can only speculate as to what is really happening but I do feel it is clear that he has asked for a move back to Barca. My first question is why? When when all season he has stated that this is his club and he is staying? He has even said words to the effect that he is bored having to keep saying it. Lost of badge waving and kissing just to emphasise the point. Then this.
My view is that Cesc owes us. We have brought him through the ranks. One of the reasons we sold Paddy was to advance his development into the side. He was given an 8 year contract. A clear statement of what the club thought of him and how they saw his future role. He was then given the responsibility of Captain. And now, after all of that he wants out? Well none of that impresses me greatly I must say. I actually think that Cesc has developed as a player and a true leader. He has taken to the captaincy extremely well. So why desert us now?
What really annoys me is that there has been very little from Cesc at all. It all seems to come from others, and more recently his father. That for me is totally unacceptable. If he really wants to show dignity and respect, and he really does want out then have the balls to come out and say it. Have the common decency to say thanks but the time for me to move on is now. Not all this wishy washy shite. As Mr T says, “gets some nuts.”
My feelings towards Barca for the way they have acted are ones of contempt. I think they have yet again publicly courted one of our players and I for one am getting pissed off with it. However, this time I do feel we hold all of the aces. I would be saying to both Barca and Cesc that they have 2 weeks to agree a deal. The non negotiable fee is £60 million in a one of immediate payment. If that is not acceptable then the deal is dead. Log all the details with FIFA and have on notice that any further contact between Barca and Cesc, directly or indirectly will result in an official complaint.
I for one find it hard to see how he can actually stay at Arsenal having stated that he wants out. I definitely do not think he should remain as captain. I do not see that someone who is desperate to leave can return here and lead a team. Tommy V would get my vote.
So who would we bring in if he goes? I think Van de Vaart would be my choice. That or possibly just move Arshavin into the middle. Then who takes his place out wide? Joe Cole anyone? You heard it here first. Stranger things have happened?
Keep the faith.
I think Cesc did not come out and push his “sorted by WC” agenda because Wenger told him that he would let him go if Barca met the valuation, but that would probably be after the WC.
I do not think Cesc wants to hurt the club and he is loyal to Wenger, but he is ready to leave. And if he has a great WC, then his value goes up more and then Barca will have no choice but to pay up or shut up.
Well if the bastions of truth (Nazi Mail) are to be believed we have blocked an approach from barca. If it’s true this is the best/funniest news I’ve heard on this saga…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1281703/Cesc-Fabregas-Barcelona-approach-blocked-Arsenal.html?ITO=1490
i agree holic i say 65m is an absolute must if we agree to sell to those filthy catalans!! cant see them paying that though so i feel we may just see Cesc again next season same as when we would see Vieira stroll onto the Highbury pitch after reals annual summer pursuit of him!!
Steve T you make good points but I also find myself more favorably disposed toward Cesc for acting as a young man who has the opportunity to go home and play for the best team in the world. If he goes I agree that Vermaelen would be a good choice for the next captain, bringing us into an entirely new era.
if C. Ronaldo is worth £80m then surely fabregas is worth at the very least £100m!! yes i am a spurs fan but ultimately im a football fan and fabregas is a much better player than ronaldo, barca just like man utd think they can just steam in and take any player they like, every year barca are linked to your players just like man utd are ours and it has to stop, what would barca think if you put a £10m offer in for messi? surely they would take offense just like you have to there dismal offer for cesc, i say keep him and build a little bit more, we do the same and let north london rule the EPL next season, can we finish top though please lol. COYS
What we really need is a big offer from say Real or Inter. If Real offer say £50 million then that will really put the pressure on. As I said previously, I think it is time for us to start showing who actually has the players contract and who actually pays his wages. I also think that Cesc needs to realise that as well.
I see what you did with your title ‘Hols – “and young Catalan off”. I had a double take. Are you trying to give me a fucking heart attack pal? Then I realised…no worry and look we will even drive you to the airport!
Ok so £65 big ones you say? In used notes? Carol Vorderman is hurrying me up and I can hear that fucking Countdown music again!
Deal! There I’ve let the cat out the bag.
8 Ball. My point is that he knew exactly how long he intended to stay when he signed an 8 year contract. Not 3 years. not 4 etc. If he wants out because the going has got a little too tough and the grass is slightly greener then I am sorry, that does nothing for me sadly. This is his chance. My opinion is that he should have kept his mouth shut, stayed at least another 2 seasons and then, if he so desires move on. But I am not having all of this loyalty I love the club badge kissing stuff one minute, only to be followed by the I want to leave stuff the next. Not what I expect from an Arsenal leader at all.
I don’t know if Cesc is worth as much as Ronaldo yet, let’s see after the WC. He is certainly worth more than Kaka (£59mils last year) given his age and the number of years left on his contract so yes anything below £60mils would not be good enough, even more so considering the damage it would do to our masterplan.
Steve T: Cesc spoke today. If you look towards the end of `Holic’s last post’s comments you’ll find the links to an excerpt video of the press conference and the complete text version. I agree he owes us but in that interview, he is still the same decent lad he’s always been so far. If he still plays for us next season I am 100% confident he will give us his best.
Gotta love John Cross, and his coverage in the face of the crap offered elsewhere..
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Arsenal-tell-Barcelona-that-Cesc-Fabregas-is-not-for-sale-at-any-price-article439617.html
Morning Gents,
I think we are in a very strong position on this one. 4 years left on Cesq’s current contract and Barca already pleading poverty.
On the one hand if he is determined to go we can hold out for at least “Holic’s” 65m valuation. If he stays he can hopefully provide the leverage to get Arsene to spend on the experienced players every man and his dog knows we require. I think Cesq is a competitor and will continue to give his best effort for the cause and with 2 or 3 more quality signings we may get to where we need to be.
The worst case scenario is that we sell him for 30m and dont spend , similar scenario to the 40m we got for Kolo and the other one.
Lagavulin with a dash of water please Barman!
Cheers,
Whilst it is apparent that Cesc has expressed a desire to move on to Barcelona his comments today appear to indicate that he is still somewhat torn between his desire to return to his hometown club (perfectly understandable no matter what many of us may think) and his obvious loyality to Wenger. I believe that is where his main problem is. He must fully recognise the huge lift his career has had as a direct result of Wenger’s belief in him. I do not think that this move to Barcelona is by any means a done deal and one cannot ignore the very strong position Arsenal are in here. There is still every chance he’ll still be in our colours next season and still our captain and I, for one, have no difficulty with that whatsoever. I trust that Wenger will bring in two quality signings that will significantly boost the team’s chances of securing success next season. We’re not as bad as many bloggers seem to think. I vividly remember the dark days of the mid Seventies and Eighties and there is no chance of us ever going back to that.
Nice pint of stout for me ‘holic. Cheers!
Steve T: Cesc has just said it all depends on Arsenal now. Here’s the Mirror version of the latest declarations by Cesc and the update with Arsenal telling Barca tonight that we won’t accept any offer at any price: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Arsenal-tell-Barcelona-that-Cesc-Fabregas-is-not-for-sale-at-any-price-article439617.html
Duh, `Holic’s too fast for me. That’s why he’s a terrific blogger and I’am a paltry commenter 😉
Are we missing a trick? The trump card in this is not his ‘DNA’, his love of Arsenal, it’s Arsene. Fab is totally indebted to Le Boss. If Le Boss commits his future then maybe Fab will follow.
Ahh dream on ’74…
Dont be deluded. It’s a matter of time before he leaves. Anyway I always believe football is a team game ,UnderGG,Arsenal relied on Wright as the chief architect of goals. Similary as was the case for Henry. it recently happened in the cl final.To rely 80 to 100%on one guy is stupid.Messi was shackled though he did have some shots at goal.
Sorry 74, but I doubt I’m the first to take the ‘Catalan off’ opportunity 😉
CN, I’m thinking we follow up the opening “Fuck off” with a demand for 80 million. Barca will think 50m will be a good result.
Very much more complicated than that, but we need to get very close to Ibra fee. That is the benchmark for Barca. Cesc will give them a lot more than that lazy bastard.
One thing’s for sure I am now rooting for Spain in the WC. If Cesc scores in the final he will definitively be beyond Barca’s reach…
Evening Holic
glad you are back online,
Going back to our conversation about Blackpool 1971,in Virgin on the Absurd,the answer to my question about PS’s goal in that game was that it was the first and only goal he ever scored with his head.!!
Just like a certain West Ham player in a cup final almost a decade later.!!
Do you remember who Blackpool’s manager was back then.??
He came back to haunt us in a certain cup semi final a couple of years later,when we had a certain Mr Blockhead pretending to be a central defender.
I was wondering whether like me,you were at that semi final at Hillsborough and if you were,who knows, we may have been not far from each other on the terraces,shedding tears of fucking despair.!!
Matt, Cesc know he can not upset the apple cart. He is not in a good bargaining position. That is why he will “leave it up to Arsenal.” But as I said, I don’t buy it. His father has admitted that he has already spoken to Barca and they have instructed him what to say. I think that Cesc and his agents know exactly what they are doing. The longer this drags on the worse it gets for us. I would be even more cheesed off if a deal is done something like 2 days before deadline day and it leaves us no time to bring anyone in.
If you read the Mirror article there is a link asking where Platini is on all of this. That is well worth a read as well.
If he does stay next season does he remain as captain??????
Clive,
Indeed I was at Hillsborough that day, and after 89 always looked back at that as the warning sign. We were the first division club and crammed into the Leppings Lane End. Don’t think I have ever been so ‘squeezed in’ at a game anywhere.
Bob Stokoe would have been the link. Still see him galloping across a wet Wembley to cuddle Jim Montgomery at the final whistle in a track suit and mac!
Still remember Charlie George hitting the bar. That was a painful day.
Got one to cheer me up? 😉
Good stuff ‘holic, I too now feel that Cesc wants to go but I am wary of his father and his input. Is he is his agent? Cesc was obviously happy with his position not very long ago, I just wonder if his dad has given in to getting Barca in one ear and the anti -Arsenal brotherhood in the British press in the other…and is starting to fear for his sons reputation and turning the screw. With Cesc in Barca since the leg break, the Barca influence in the Spain squad (who have blatant instruction to join in the brain wash of an otherwise loyal and honest young man)…and now his Dad listening to Ian ‘He needs to leave Arsenal’ Wright* and other such fucktards in the press – Arsenal FC are once again being forced over a barrel because they refuse to play hardball and care about their players.
I think the World Cup may be our undoing as Wenger will not have the proximity hewould need to kee Cesc focused on his job, Captain of a club that does it the right way. Puyol and Co will go to work this summer, the press in this country will too – as all the Spuds on Fleet street endeavor to dismantle our team. I am pretty sure, all things considered he will be our Skip’ for one more season…and I pray for an Istanbul-esque Stevie G moment that affirms his place in our clubs history…I hope Wenger see’s this and moves to ensure it.
Just leave me at the end the bar, staring into the middle dstance…dont offer me a drink for I may start to cry…
* Why should OUR best player ‘need’ to leave OUR club, Ian, you fucking dimwitted, populist whore?!
No Andy, his agent is Darren Dein.
That’s all you need to know, really.
Holic
Did you know we set 2 Fa cup records that still stand today.??
In successive seasons,78-79 and 79-80 we played 10 cup ties just to reach the final.!!
In 78-79 we played 5 games in the 3rd round against Sheff wed,we also had a qtr final replay against Southhampton, and i was at the semi final at villa pk where we beat Wolves 2 nil.
The following season we had 2 games against cardiff in the 3rd rd and bolton in the 5th rd before we played the epic 4 games against Liverpool in the semi final.
I was at coventry with my Dad for the final game which we won 1 nil with a goal by Brian talbot.
Those games against Liverpool were notable for the fantastic goalkeeping by Pat Jennings,who was just unbelievable.
We also played 7 league cup games that season as well as the 9 games we played in the Cup winners cup..
All up we played 27 Cup games in the 79-80 season,no wonder we were knackered at the end.!!
21 Years ago today…I’ve never been so happy before or since
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L85wbuePV8w
“for Thomas, Thomas charging through the midfield, Thomas, It’s up for grabs now, Thomas, right at the end”
Steve T: Cesc would prefer to play for Barca at the moment, at the same time he’s only had good things to say about Arsenal and Arsene. IMHO you’re pushing it too far by putting agent’s statements in his mouth whereas what he just said is totally consistent with what he has said in all these years with us. As others have stated before I can admit that he loves 2 clubs, a case of football club bigamy if you will.
Even if I hoped he would have waited a bit longer before the whole episode started (as I agree he owed us, he’s just starting to fulfill his potential and we’ve invested a long time in him while he was still no more than good prospect material) I can think of many reasons for his swaying to happen sooner, with Barca’s shenanigans added to the list.
Please remember that contrarily to the pro-Arsenal PR, Barca is not in distress financially. Compared to United or Fake Madrid they are a well-run profitable club. If you’ve not seen it yet, read this excellent in-depth analysis: http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-can-barcelona-afford-cesc-fabregas.html
Obviously Arsenal has taken the decision to shut the door, either at this stage or for the entire summer which is fine by me either way. As Cesc’s old man said, Barca wants this to happen before the preliminary round of the CL (mid-August) otherwise Cesc won’t be able to feature for them in it so it looks like it won’t drag until deadline day anyway. Now if we get £70 mils by August 15th I think you’ll agree we should be able to find an able replacement.
The Mirror’s article on Platini is poor if I may say so. The line “he’s against english clubs” is getting old, especially one day after his victory on financial rules whose main targets will be almost all our overspending european competitors but Bayern and Lyon. Honestly it pains me to have to take the defense of Platini which is as slick a politician as they come but this article is full of falsehoods (Barca are not in a “crippling financial position”, Platini hammered RM more than the english clubs) and let’s say it frankly it reeks of latent populist xenophobia tabloid-style.
If nothing happened after the 2-year-long wrongdoing by Fake Madrid concerning Ronaldo and the abject hijacking of Kakuta by Chelski, we can dream on that anything will happen this time, at least at this stage.
As for Cesc being captain if he displays the same commitment as he’s done this season, I don’t see why not. Ronaldo played well for United in his last season and as I see Cesc as a better (hu)man I expect at least the same professionalism from him.
Hi Holics,
Quick chime in- on the shoulders of someone who brought this up earlier- it’s hard to imagine this not all being behind us if they simply refuse to sell Fabregas, bring in some strong reinforcements this summer, and we finish off next year what we started last- playing dominant, beautiful football all the way to a treble.
Guinness, please.
‘Holic at 11.
Welcome back, first off.
I said in a comment on your last post that the price for Cesc must at least equal that, paid by Barca, for Ibrahimovic.
Cesc is younger and, in every way, a better player than Ibra.
Fortunately we have Gazidis to do the tough stuff now.
Ibra’s fee (£45m + Eto’o) was reckoned to be around £70million.
Is there any argument that Cesc should go for less, other than the old ‘you stole him when he was 16’ stuff ? A bit rich, too, coming from them.
And the compensation for that episode was sorted long ago, anyway.
Matt. You make some interesting points as always. However just ask yourself this. Why is Cesc saying all of the right things? Because he wants out and he knows his position is weak. I know loyalty is a dirty word in football these days but quite frankly I have had enough of this ‘player power’. I do not take the view that because he now wants to change his mind and go back to Spain then it should just happen. I had hoped for more from him than that.
If he does stay then I do not see how he can remain as captain. I have no idea what goes on in the dressing room but i think it is a train crash waiting to happen. The club captain, top earner not having a good game? That will lead to all kinds of remarks.
And we are still none the wiser as to why he really wants to leave?????
Loye ya mate. Allways and forever.
Holic,
What I don’t get is why people expect us to lose Cesc for peanuts when hes got almost 6 years on Ibrahimovic, is easily as good as him and Ibrahimovic was €69m all up!!! If Cesc goes I would be devastated for any less than £55m thats €65m. If he goes i’d like to see a complete investment in the team. By this I mean spending ALL of the Cesc money AND our current transfer money. The only player i’d see leave the club is Sagna or Eboue to make room for Van Der Wiel. The players are:
Akinfeev
Van Der Wiel
Cahill?
Vertonghen
Hazard
Gourcuff
(Chamakh)
For those who don’t know anything about Vertonghen, he is 6 ft 2, left footed, 23, His best friend is someone called Thomas Vermaelen. He plays for Ajax, until Vermaelen came to Arsenal he was regarded as more talented than him. He can play at Center back, left back and many say his best position is defensive mid. He would be a great addition to our squad as he would act as second choice left back and could cover for Song, (In doing so he would also add balance to the midfield as Diaby or Denilson could play in the right channel) Many of his attributes are the same as Vermaelens, he is a great header of the ball and scores goals from distance. Regarding the other players, Akinfeev is one of the most under rated keepers in the world. He has tons of experience, will make Arshavin happy, commands the box, supposedly signed terms with us in Jan before Wenger decided our keepers were good enough, is very reasonably priced.
Van Der Wiel is 22, is in the mold of Dani Alves, plays for Ajax and Netherlands so knows Van Persie, Vermaelen and Vertonghen. Wenger was looking at him and he stated he would love to come to Arsenal.
There are so many right footed Center backs out there and I trust whoever Wenger buys. Cahill looks like a nice option as he will satisfy the fans who want ‘good old English grit’… He also scores some nice headers, has Prem experience, is 6 ft 2 so not too short not too lanky, and he would love to play for Arsenal.
Hazard is super talented and would give us the option of playing two conventional Wingers. He said he would love to go to Arsenal and his value is only going to skyrocket in coming years. I’m sure you’ve all heard about him so I won’t go on.
Gourcuff is not a ready made replacement for Cesc but he is definitely not light years behind him. He will improve hugely under Wenger and his best friend is Chamakh who it is said he has a ‘telepathic’ connection on the field with. He is obviously French and one of the qualities he has that Fabregas does not is he is 6 ft 2 with much more strength than Fab. People say he is slow but he is still at least as fast as Fab if not faster. You could almost be certain that he wants to come to Arsenal with many of his friends here as well as almost every French players favorite coach in Arsene.
These are all players that want to come to Arsenal. All are talented and if you take out Van Der Wiel and Hazard they have an average height of 6 ft 1 and a 1/2 in. Most of them do not take over someone elses position as there are holes in goalkeeper, Center back (right), cover for Center back (left), Defensive mid (left and cover), A genuine left winger, Attacking midfield if Cesc goes, and another striker (Chamakh has filled that gap. ) My reason for Van Der Wiel is he has much more potential than any of our right backs and can attack and defend rather than one or the other.
Please give me your thoughts and sorry it was so long.
P.s, please do not slate me for wanting signings etc, I’m just bored of reading about Cesc leaving so am trying to stop myself getting depressed over it by looking forward to the possibilities if he leaves!
p.ss, if we keep Cesc i’d still like to see these signings accept then we wouldn’t need Gourcuff and Hazard could wait another year.
Pires is king @39: exactly the most plausible scenario I have in mind. A couple of smart buys, all young players playing better, strikers on fire, Cesc joins the battle a bit later to recover from all the efforts in the WC where he collected best player award and off we roll towards the quadruple 😉
Steve T: Perhaps a better way to rephrase it is that Cesc at this point in time would prefer to play for Barca. Which doesn’t exclude the fact he could also be still very happy playing for Arsenal, the other club he loves. He has no desire to create a mess. I think it’s another proof of his maturity to minimize his contribution to the debate as much as possible, the risk of pouring oil on the fire is obvious.
On the other hand Barca’s interests is to have Cesc create a storm and make it impossible to play again for Arsenal so as to get a better price for him (so they would hope). If he was starting to bleat on Arsenal & Arsene then I’d venture it would be because of Barca’s influence. Now if that were to happen, I’d want the club to be merciless.
I fully agree with you that the club should be firm and enforce the contract (at least for the upcoming season if not 2). Or accept a ridiculous sum of money paid on the spot but even that would be the second best option.
So I’m guessing the Blaze DIDN’T reach Virgin then?
The cunts from Catalonia arent interested in Cesc this year. They are talking BS so that they can get him on the cheap next year.
For all their tapping up the fact that they havent put forward a single offer shows that they are all talk -no action.
I hope Cesc feels humiliated and feels determined to stay at Arsenal.
Pretty sad to see Fran go. Hope the kid makes it big – im sure he will!
Sajit: That’s an interesting hypothesis. They probably expect at least one more year at top level for Xavi and they have a lot of cover in midfield so for sure they don’t exactly need him. It’s a dangerous game though as Cesc will still be contractually bound and will certainly be even more highly regarded than he is now. Next season Cesc will be the same age as Ronaldo when he exploded (42 goals in one season, up from 23 the season before at the age Cesc is now – Cesc scored 19 this season btw). If Cesc follows the same progress curve Barca will bitterly regret their bluff…
After this Cesc saga, I really want Mourinho to join Real, so he can go and piss on their field (metaphorically of course), irritate the whole of Catalunya, and squeeze the trophies out of Barca. Barca is like a petulant child, savant possibly, who needs a bit of spanking and Moanrinho will be a good one to give them that and then some more.
Barca FC, you make me sick.
There’s one thing I wanted to bring up a long time ago and didn’t, so here it goes…
There seems to be a consensus that William Gallas has done “brilliantly” this year around this blog and Arsenal supporters as a whole…
Well, we all know that Arsenal’s weak link this year was conceding goals and we cant credit all the goals we conceded down to our keepers play, I think Gallas is way overrated and he’s the reason for most of our goals conceded (not talking about goals from the last games of the season where simply everybody was injured)…
I know defense is a collective thing and the whole team needs to do it and Arshavin barely tracks back and Nasri didn’t track back at all against Barca at the Emirates which allowed Dani Alves to dart for about 70 meters with the ball every time, he would run the whole pitch and then pass left to Xavi to start a play, no playing from the middle of the field at all and that was all Nasri’s fault cause he kept pushing to the middle…
BUT, I also know that even though team defense is a collective thing, an experienced center half as Gallas is should read the plays and act accordingly.
I just can’t seem to understand that consensus that he was good this year, with a proper partner for Vermaelen and a decent keeper we would have been Champions. And I don’t think I’m too harsh on him cause I expect more from an experienced back who’s supposed to be the leader of the defense.
What are your thoughts?
SkÃ¥l !! I’d accept 60m£ but not this season.. Any deal should be for earliest next season… Given as time to recruit and develop Nasri,Ramsey,Wilshere and Diaby for that position. And thats only because it is his home town and dispite all we love the lad. But i still beleive we need to punish Barca for years to come in every possible way we can.. Im a firm beleiver in holding grudges..
@Snir – I think the consensus was that he was much better this season than the last when he mostly partnered Toure. But, as many have pointed out, he’s prone to a long injury layoff which is a bit of a problem. If we replace him with an experienced centre half, we won’t miss him.
Skål Snagglepuss,
I love your attitude. Grudges get more and more satisfying the older you get, let me confirm 😉
I think that is a very fair argument, Snir. I think I made the point many times last season that we had four very good defenders, but we didn’t have a very good defence.
Something wasn’t right.
i think there is about a 10 % chance of Cesc going. Arsene looks like he’s pulled the rabbit from the hat again. Now two more from in the transfer market (CB and GK) and we’ll be alright.
Where does this notion that Cesc couldn’t play for Barca if he doesn’t move before the mid-august preliminary rounds come from? We don’t play in the preliminaries so why would any of our players be cup-tied? Or has there been a rule change that has escaped my attention? That would, of course, be entirely possible 🙂
Can’t say I’m too bothered about Merida leaving, he never seemed to take that final step. Apart from short spells, he never really impressed in any of his first-team appearances.
Lars: Good point, I wonder why Cesc’s dad mentioned it. UEFA regulations (the latest ones I found were from 2007) state the deadline is September 1st which would indeed make it harder for us to react if the transfer happened on that date.
Barca would like Cesc, they dont want anybody else to have him- because they think they have ownership rights on every catalan- but they do not need him and therefore are not willing to get close to pay what he’s worth. Cesc would be making a major mistake by going there now. He needs to move- when Barca need him enough to be willing to meet his market value.
Sadly, I’m looking forward to next season already.
Good man, Hat.
Not long to Barnet now 😉
From Cesc’s comments from yesterday re his conversation with AW, on saying it’s all in his (AW’s) hands now. I’m wondering (praying) that maybe the conversation went something like this (shortened version) Cesc: listen you have had ME now for six years & every year the team sell’s it’s top player & never replaces him, I know need to look @ my future as we both know Barca want me, so what’s The Ars going to do this summer?
Aw: yep have to agree with you old son (cos that’s the way AW speaks off camera), as you know The Ars NOW have “LOADS OF MONEY” since paying off the bad debt, so leave the summer to me, see who I buy & if you are still not happy come & see me again then we will look @ anything Barca want to offer & go from there.
Cesc walks out the of AW office knowing he’s in a win win situation…………..
“Like me, Cesc Fabregas just can’t face another season of deja vu at Arsenal. It is too depressing.”
Oh deep joy. Myles has had enough. Blogland will be better off without the bitter and twisted old cunt.
Sorry ‘Holic, you are completely wrong about Cesc. There is absolutely NO WAY he is still 22. He turned 23 earlier this year 🙂
Oh, in that case he can go for ten million then, Gareth 😉
Afternoon Holic & Holic`s
@AurthurTheGooner ( Previous blog ) I understand what your saying that contracts in this day and age dont mean what the used to. However we are in a financial position to not have to bow down to there persistent posturing and I do believe Cesc would like to go to barca this year but I am not getting the feeling that his world will end if he stays. He will one day be a barca player this I have no doubt. But this season ? I don’t see it.
A few Holic`s have commented on that they believe barca don’t have the funds for this year and that they are just laying the ground work for a transfer next season. I agree with this idea, the sum of £30m being banded about by the spanish press help confirm my beliefs. Barca are no were near that stupid to believe Cesc is only worth £30m. If we offered £30m for Xabi ( for a player about to turn 30 ) you would be able to hear their laughter from here.
On Merida leaving this was expected by all I think. I dont foresee this being a huge loss as he barely kicked a ball last season and he is of the age that I would have expected him to have progressed further in his development. So bye and good luck in the future.
Just to bring up future transfers by the boss, Arsene claimed he wanted all transfers ( players in ) to be done prior to the WC. No signs of any thing happening yet that may be a problem especially if the players he is after are players in the WC and we all know what happens if they have a good tournament. Price doubled and we all know Arsene is not a person to pay over inflated transfer fee`s for a player who turned it on for 2 weeks.
I am far from ambivalent on this Cesc thing, even if I am in the minority.
Cesc Fabregas has said nothing to convince me that he wants to be anywhere near Arsenal next season – I think what he is really saying is that it is “all about (how much) Arsenal” (are going to insist upon from Barcelona to let me go)”.
If he goes he goes, just make sure that we get the going rate as discussed above. And none of this “most of it upfront bollox, ‘Holic”.
They want him, then they pay us what we are owed for Hleb and Henry PLUS the £65M for Cesc – feckin’ slimeballs.
Alternatively, Fuck Off Barca.
Yours
An old man (with a grudge) 😉
@ Steve T
Completely agree with your take on the Cesc situation. If he ends up staying, I will get behind him just like I would support anyone who currently wears the shirt. My admiration for him as a player has not diminished, but he has shown himself to be a lesser man than I thought.
I wouldn’t want him to keep the captaincy, either – but I would favour RvP to take over.
Fungunner i love RVP but i would rather the captaincy went to Vermaelen, I have a feeling sans injury RVP is going to phenomenal next season and it wont be long before the real madrids of this world came calling.
to be*
80.1 million holic
no way the holy diver is worth more than cesc
I think he’ll stay.
Haha,
Good drinking again ‘holics. I’m back! Fully internetted up.
Sadly fully Guinness and Cooleyed up too 😉
Will try and put something together for the weekend.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-Exclusive-Cesc-Fabregas-to-quit-Arsenal-after-Hill-Wood-bust-up-article440669.html
did anybody see this ? Interesting.
It turns out that Hill-Wood’s statements about Cesc not making the first 11 is the deciding factor and that’s what cause Cesc to wanna leave this summer…
I just watched the Chamakh interview on Arsenal.com, and I liked it.
They screwed up the translation slightly at one point – he was explaining why he likes Arsenal, and what he said was, “Everyone has a team, and for me that team is Arsenal.” The translator chose to truncate that too much, I think. He was basically saying that he’s a Gooner.
I am very optimistic about this signing.
I have a lot of time for John Cross, Snir, but no time at all for that kind of ‘friends of’ source reporting. In many cases that is a classic plant by somebody else to muddy the waters. I’m surprised, to say the least, that he has come out with something like that. It is divisive and embarrassing stuff, and not what we have come to expect and enjoy from the Mirror man.
Well, you know better than me then I’m just gonna take your word for it :).
Did anybody notice that both that CB Diakhate and Gourcuff aren’t mentioned in the transfer linked thing in the Arsenal.com webpage even though being constantly linked? Do you think it has to do with anything?
Guys, what do you think of Dudu Awate of Mallorca as a replacement for Almunia or Fabianski? I was just thinking about it during our national team’s (Israel) game against Uruguay and he could be a very good solution…He’ll be cheap too and it seems AW is not thrilled about paying so much on the keeper issue and will settle with the two clowns if he has to.
No Snir, don’t take my word for it. 🙂
I just want people to understand there is more than one way to interpret a story and not to accept as ‘fact’ what you see in tomorrow’s chip paper.
It is popular to bash PHW at the moment, so people who would ridicule someone who said ‘a friend of Dean Windass says he is signing for Arsenal’ are quite happy to sign up for another ‘friend of’ story.
They are nearly always utter bollocks, and I believe this is. You have to make up your own mind.
John Cross is one of the only Journos i pay any real attention to with regards Arsenal news and when he said about the Cesc Meeting with Wenger thats when i pretty much accepted it as the truth,
But this story has all the hallmarks of a certain ex board member furthering his own ambitions to return to the club, To much is leaked out of Arsenal these days compared to days gone by and again i can summarise whos doing the leaking, Especially with his contacts at the club and in the press,
Saying that mind they really should muzzle PHW he really does us no favours but id kind of miss him if he was gone 🙂
My browser stalls every time I try to open the Mirror website so I have resolved never to click on a link to a Mirror story again.
Good post, holic. Also agree with you on Cross’ latest piece re PHW. I too have a lot of time with Cross but I have to think he didn’t think too carefully about his source this time. I think it shows that there may be a lot of internal disagreement going on inside the club that we don’t know about.
I’m sympathetic to both your take on Cesc’s behavior and Steve’s take, I honestly think there’s a measure of truth to both arguments. I do think Cesc genuinely loves and respects AW, the club and the supporters. I think it hurts him greatly to leave the club.
But I also think this desire to leave has been coming on and maybe was spurred on further this past season by a few things.
One of which was the Ramsey injury.
He’s witnessed 3 teammates get chopped down while the media treated the perpetrators as innocent victims, and then watched as those teammates struggled to come back from those assaults.
Another factor might involve the internal politics at Barca.
LaPorta is about to leave the office of president. For yrs he’s been obsessed with bringing back Cesc because he’s had to deal with years of criticism from within the club for having “lost” Cesc to Arsenal. So he’s determined to get back Cesc as part of his legacy as he leaves the presidency, which is (I think) this summer.
So… did Cesc’s sudden urgency in leaving come from (at least in part) LaPorta’s camp telling Cesc’s parents “look, it’s now or never, he’s got to come back this summer because my successor won’t be so interested in getting your son back to the club.” Does Cesc believe (erroneously) that he may not be able to return to Barca after LaPorta leaves?
BTW, I do think Cesc will stay with us one more season, and then leave next summer.
The real conundrum is if Cesc stays for one more season and it becomes an open secret that he will move on the following season, then do you shift the armband?
If he keeps it, what kind of message does that send out to team mates?fans? and the media?
Equally if we strip him of it, isn’t that humiliating?
In recent times the armband has been a poisoned chalice.
I grew up with ‘lifers’ like Pat Rice and Adams. No badge kissing, just 100% Arsenal.
If he goes, I would make TV the next Captain. He’s another defender and you know playing for Arsenal means everything.
YAG
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YAG – WTF?!
moj says we’re all gooners, ’74 😉
Moj knows.
Doh! – should’ve asked the dustbin lids. 😉
Well holic, I don’t really know all the ins and outs of the English press so didn’t know how to take it.
I just thought that a person who is on ATVO occasionally wouldn’t write an “ordered” article by someone that sets out to harm AFC or PHW, after all, he enters the clubs studios and is a part of an official show by the club, so I expected the piece to be honest and sincere coming from someone like him…
I have read rumors about us getting joe cole on free transfer. Any news on that ?
Evening ‘Holics.
Have to say i agree with those who think that John Cross was fed a line here, as he seems to be a genuine Arsenal fan to me.
So,who would do the feeding?
Don’t forget that Cesc’s agent is one Darren Dein.
Who might benefit most from Gooners getting the hump with PHW due to another of his rather straightforward comments?
I would suggest, maybe, someone wanting PHW’s position, who would be certain to bring with him an older and more orange relative of the young Dein.
Just a thought.
Arsenal 1971 @ 64.
I am giving up getting stressed about who we will sign and whether they will arrive in time etc. etc.
When Arsene identifies an already often observed, genuine target, he then observes them, very often, again. Sometimes for years!
Once his mind is made up, we now have the very smooth and shrewd
Ivan Gazidis to conduct negotiations with AW, and i reckon they understand the market well enough to move at the best time available to them.
If a player has the ability and potential to play in his team, i’m sure Arsene will have identified it before he plays at the World Cup.
Example: Thomas Vermaelen – signed very early on in last summer’s window. Who had anticipated that particular signing? With £30million being quoted recently for Gary Cahill (no please!), TV wasn’t too shabby a deal for £10million, or?
Glass of rose-coloured wine this evening please ‘Holic.
Re Merida: It’s nice to hear that him and Arsenal are parting gracefully.
“Wenger looked after me and my family since I arrived in London”
“I have a very good relationship with him”
“I am and I will be eternally grateful”
“Obviously he is not pleased with my departure, but he wished me luck and behaved like a gentleman”
From http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6177320,00.html
Matt, if Merida felt like he was dealing with a gentleman, I think you will agree it is because he was.
Morning chaps.
A great article by David Bond re club debt and new legislation. Can’t help thinking we will do well out of this.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/davidbond/2010/05/its_financial_fair_play_stupid.html
Just renewed my season ticket. I’ll probably have to live off Pot Noodles for the next month, but it’s all worth it (I hope).
@AFC1974: very interesting, particlarly that bit about not allowing LBO’s.